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Modern Mysteries...

Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2021 9:10 pm
by 43rdRecceReg
There's a plentiful supply of conundrums, even in the connected high-tech world. I have a few here:
1. Why do folk the world over, irrespective of native language, go "Ahhhhhhh!!..." after quenching their thirst, with a much needed infusion of water, and especially something stronger? :)
That would be a good PhD topic at a well-funded University...especially a liberal one, with nothing better to do. :D
2. Why do duvet covers appear to devour the contents of the washing machine, in a wash cycle? :think:
3. Why do folk these days often begin statements and sentences, (annoyingly), with the adverb/adjective - "So'...?? >:<

4. More importantly, after plaudits and praise in the last few years for innovation and betterment, Why has Heng Long supplied its recent V7.0 WW2 clankers (Pz 3, Tiger 1, StuG 3, T34...) only with sounds from the Abrams gas turbine engine, or the Leopard (at a stretch Challenger) Diesel? That's retrogressive and, well, bonkers. It's a bit like expecting the Blackbird to go 'Cuckoo!'.
Stanlllley Legion, always a pleasure to watch, even has a bemused moment when opening the recent HL Pz 111 release,(equipped with the new V7.0 board.), when the WW2 classic emits a pronounced gas turbine sound. Anyway, it's an interesting review.
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5. Another mystery: why hasn't the Centurion, widely regarded as one of the best tanks ever made, and exported around the globe, been represented in a 1/16 scale? Tamiya made a 1/25 version- but why on Earth couldn't they have expanded it to 1/16 scale?
6. Finally, If we told Heng Long that V7.0 is silly, would they listen? Well, I suppose we could always mute the offending sounds with the nifty 7-stage volume control.. :think: :D

Please feel free to add more mysteries.

Re: Modern Mysteries...

Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2021 2:08 am
by tankme
Well at least Haya has a Centurion in the works...

Re: Modern Mysteries...

Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2021 2:12 am
by Estnische
Why is everything 'awesome', 'fabulous' or 'amazing'? It doesn't leave much room for improvement.

But back to your post, I was looking at Centurions today. The Centurion saw extensive Australian service in the Vietnam war and I would love to do one. I rediscovered that Christian Ludwig makes a 1/16 kit - I didn't get beyond a perusal of the pricelist - it was starting to add-up quickly. Wasn't Andrew Haya going to do one? I cannot find it now on the Haya website.

Maybe a concerted barrage of requests to Heng Long might get them motivated.

Re: Modern Mysteries...

Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2021 8:38 am
by jarndice
"Very Unique" !!!
"Power Outage" !!!
"Fieldsman" ???
I fear you may have started a runaway train Roy :haha:

Re: Modern Mysteries...

Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2021 12:29 pm
by lmcq11
The mystery of the Centurion; A complex British heavy tank hiding under beautiful and harmonious shapes. The suspension is tricky to build, operate and maintain. Heavy tracks that ravage any landscape it operates on. Fragile side skirts and mounts. Large fenders with long weak brackets for support. Heavy turret difficult to rotate. Large hatches to detail. Turret has nice curves but with huge mantlet needing large operable canvas difficult to repro and make to look good. Spaced large bins on turret not easy to position and get right. Tons of small detail to create with custom shapes all over, otherwise tank looks naked. My Ludwig Centurion build added up to about $2k.

Re: Modern Mysteries...

Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2021 5:13 pm
by General Jumbo01
Not sure what all the fuss is about! The Centurion was my first ever tank which l used when l was around 5 years old. My grandfather tested the prototypes somewhere in the Highlands whilst my father worked on the drawing office assisting in the design. Me? I collected them and wore them out on my mum's carpets.

I don't recall much in the way of detail though - the road wheels and side protection panels somehow fabricated in a single casting, the gun elevation being achieved by subtle bending of the barrel and, although it seemed very big at the time, it was rather less than 1/16! Although it is now old, l don't think it was a Tamiya and wasn't more than a few weeks pocket money. My love of Centurions still remains, though my collection is down to three.
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Re: Modern Mysteries...

Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2021 5:35 pm
by jarndice
As a boy I would peer into the toyshop window wishing I could have a "Dinky" Thorneycroft Mighty Antar and Centurion set and some years later I found myself in the transport yard of an RASC Tank Transporter company in Retford I think it was 19 Company but it was a long time ago :haha: surrounded by Thorneycroft Mighty Antar's,
Very imposing and they outlasted the Centurion in British Army Service.

Re: Modern Mysteries...

Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2021 6:05 pm
by Herr Dr. Professor
General Jumbo: here in rural Wisconsin, and probably around North America, Dinky Toys were popular and remain beloved. Yet surprisingly, I had not a one. Now that Centurion on a hauler certainly catches my toy-loving eye. Do you have photos of all your surviving Dinkys?

Re: Modern Mysteries...

Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2021 7:05 pm
by General Jumbo01
I do but there are several hundred of them plus many others of other brands scanning maybe 20 years. My grandfather was to blame! I started collecting Dinky military models again a few years back, initially to fill gaps but then l got into renervating them too, is that code 3? The model shown has a refinished Centurion and a modified Mighty Antar. I only upgrade them if l have doubles though. Was there any particular Dinky model you wanted to see?

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Re: Modern Mysteries...

Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2021 7:16 pm
by General Jumbo01
I just checked on eBay. There are lots of Centurion and Mighty Antar sets from around £25 to £35 or so. Most need a little TLC but replacement tyres and rubber tracks are cheap and easy to find too. Treat yourself!